Spring Break
Playoff fever brings crowds to downtown
David Zugnoni
Issue date: 4/30/07 Section: News
Camaraderie.
It is what Golden State Warriors fan Andrew Siegler and others said draws people to bars and restaurants to watch sporting events on television.
"You talk to people you don't know," said Siegler, a student at West Valley College. "When it comes down to this kind of scene, everybody knows that you're here for one thing, and that's because your team is playing their hearts out."
Wednesday, during a break in the Warriors' second NBA playoff game since 1994, Siegler and a few complete strangers joined in a "Let's go Warriors" chant at University Chicken in downtown San Jose.
Warriors' fans filled the establishment, with their eyes peeled on several televisions, until the final minutes of the game when it became clear that Golden State would lose to the Dallas Mavericks.
Marlon Castillo, a San Jose State University senior majoring in justice studies, said his visit to University Chicken Wednesday was his first time in a sports bar.
"I could watch it at home and be just as pumped up," Castillo said, "but I want to see the type of vibe right now.
"Getting into the game with random strangers - it's pretty cool. ... I think it's a good alternative to being actually at the game."
Siegler said due to the Warriors' 13-year absence from the playoffs, the games are bound to attract an especially large crowd to sports bars and restaurants.
"A bar is a better place to go watch a playoff game and whatnot, but this is definitely a bigger deal," he said. "... If you root for a team that constantly makes the playoffs, it's still always great every year but this is going to draw a bigger crowd because it's been so long."
However, three managers of local businesses said although Warriors games have attracted large, enthusiastic crowds, they have not increased business more than other sporting events, particularly San Jose Sharks games.
"We have our crowd for each sport: basketball, football, hockey, soccer," said Jesse D. Gomez, head manager of University Chicken. "We even get people for the Tour de France (cycling race), women's basketball, women's softball, everything."
It is what Golden State Warriors fan Andrew Siegler and others said draws people to bars and restaurants to watch sporting events on television.
"You talk to people you don't know," said Siegler, a student at West Valley College. "When it comes down to this kind of scene, everybody knows that you're here for one thing, and that's because your team is playing their hearts out."
Wednesday, during a break in the Warriors' second NBA playoff game since 1994, Siegler and a few complete strangers joined in a "Let's go Warriors" chant at University Chicken in downtown San Jose.
Warriors' fans filled the establishment, with their eyes peeled on several televisions, until the final minutes of the game when it became clear that Golden State would lose to the Dallas Mavericks.
Marlon Castillo, a San Jose State University senior majoring in justice studies, said his visit to University Chicken Wednesday was his first time in a sports bar.
"I could watch it at home and be just as pumped up," Castillo said, "but I want to see the type of vibe right now.
"Getting into the game with random strangers - it's pretty cool. ... I think it's a good alternative to being actually at the game."
Siegler said due to the Warriors' 13-year absence from the playoffs, the games are bound to attract an especially large crowd to sports bars and restaurants.
"A bar is a better place to go watch a playoff game and whatnot, but this is definitely a bigger deal," he said. "... If you root for a team that constantly makes the playoffs, it's still always great every year but this is going to draw a bigger crowd because it's been so long."
However, three managers of local businesses said although Warriors games have attracted large, enthusiastic crowds, they have not increased business more than other sporting events, particularly San Jose Sharks games.
"We have our crowd for each sport: basketball, football, hockey, soccer," said Jesse D. Gomez, head manager of University Chicken. "We even get people for the Tour de France (cycling race), women's basketball, women's softball, everything."
Be the first to comment on this story